US President refuses to withdraw sanctions imposed against Iran -

Washington: The United States has only two weeks left to sign the nuclear deal with Iran. Iran is threatening that its stand will become harsher after that period is over. But, while the superpower is being issued the threat, US President Joe Biden refused to react aggressively. But President Biden answered in the negative, to the question, ‘Will the United States withdraw the sanctions without Iran stopping Uranium enrichment?’

Iran signed a nuclear deal with the western countries in 2015. According to the agreement, Iran was required to keep its nuclear program transparent and follow certain restrictions. But former US President Donald Trump had accused that Iran was taking the western countries for a ride under the disguise of the nuclear program. At the same time, President Trump imposed harsh sanctions against Iran.

Iran withdrew from the nuclear deal last year, lashing out at the US sanctions. At the same time, Iran became aggressive regarding the nuclear deal after it became clear that Biden will be the next President of the United States. Since the last month, Iran has taken the Uranium enrichment in the Natanz and Fordo nuclear projects to a level that is above the permissible limits. Iran also announced to activate enrichment centrifuges.

The European countries the United Kingdom, France and Germany, who supported the Iran nuclear deal since the last few years, are also criticising now that Iran is crossing the limits prescribed in the nuclear deal. Despite the criticism of these countries, Iran gave a deadline of two weeks to the Biden administration for the nuclear deal. Iran has put a condition that the United States should sign the nuclear deal with Iran, withdrawing all the sanctions. Iranian supreme religious leader Ayatollah Khamenei also said that Iran would not sign the nuclear deal unless the sanctions are withdrawn.

While the US allies like Israel and Saudi were reacting aggressively over the Iranian stand, US President Biden refrained from commenting on the issue. US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, had clarified that the United States was firm on signing the nuclear deal with Iran. But Biden had not presented his stand openly. Even on Sunday, he gave very brief answers to the questions while speaking to a US news channel.

Biden answered in the negative to the question, ‘Will the United States withdraw the sanctions to initiate talks regarding Iran nuclear deal?’ He only nodded in the affirmative to the question, ‘Will Iran have to stop Uranium enrichment for this?’ and avoided talking further on the subject. Reactions are expected from Israel and Saudi Arabia over the Biden interview.

Meanwhile, Saudi has demanded that it should be a part of the nuclear deal negotiations with Iran. In contrast, Israel has threatened military action to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.